Sistine Chapel 3D tour

Where the Pope is chosen & Michelangelo Painted

The Sistine Chapel 3D

Site of the Papal Conclave and Michelangelo’s famous frescoes

Visit the site of the Papal Conclave and Michelangelo’s famous ceiling and Last Judgment
painting from home! Take a 3D virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City as never seen
before! Follow the guided tour or navigate yourself and explore one of the holiest sites in
Catholicism.

Explore & learn about the story of the Sistine Chapel – it’s function as the Papal Conclave where
the Pope s elected and the incredible artwork which adorns the Sistine Chapel:

The Conclave —Where the College of Cardinals adjourns and elects the new pope.

The Last Judgment —Michelangelo’s most famous frescoes which depicts the
apocalypse and judgment by God and Jesus Christ.

The Sistine Chapel ceiling and walls renowned frescoes—Depicting biblical stories of
Jesus, Moses and the creation.

Walk around freely, learn and experience this site which is fundamental in human history, art,
and faith.

Sistine Chapel in Vatican City

Background & History

There is no doubt that Sistine Chapel is the most known chapel in the entire Vatican City.
The chapel is well known for its architecture and the numerous decorations it bears. This
chapel was designed and built by architects Michelangelo, Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli,
Pinturicchio, among others.

Ever since its establishment on the 15th August 1483 by Pope Sixtus IV, the Sistine Chapel has
continued to be used for both religious and official papal activities. The construction of the
Sistine Chapel begun in 1473 and was completed and opened to the public later on. Today, the
Sistine Chapel is the place of the Papal Conclave - the process of electing a new Pope

The Sistine Chapel serves as the Papal conclave where the new pope is elected. During the
election of a new Pope, a chimney is installed on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, through which
smoke arises as a signal. When black smoke rises from the chimney, it signals that a new Pope
has been elected by the College of Cardinals. White smoke is created by burning the white
ballot papers of the Conclave and black smoke is achieved by burning the Papal ballots with a
substance that gives the smoke its black color.

Once a new Pope has been elected, he presents himself to the public gathered at St. Peter’s
Square by coming out on to the famous Vatican Papal porch. The new Pope is then give his new
name. The Papal election and post-election activities all take place in the

Sistine Chapel – art and architecture

The Sistine Chapel and the Vatican in general, are great representations and treasurers of high
and renowned art and architecture from the Renaissance period. Pope Julius II commissioned
Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling. Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the
Sistine Chapel between 1508 and 1512. Michelangelo’s ceiling frescoes of the stories of
Genesis, became world famous for their detail and talent.

The Sistine Chapel ceiling is approximately 40 meters long and 13 meters wide. Some of the
frescoes in the Sistine Chapel include: the large fresco of The Last Judgment which was also
painted by Michelangelo almost 20 years later. The Last Judgment is located on the sanctuary
wall over the altar. Other frescoes in the Sistine Chapel’s walls were created by different
renowned painters such as Domenico Ghirlandaio, Sandro Botticelli and Pietro Perugino. In
addition in the past there was a set of large tapestries which were created by Raphael and that
depicted nine scenes from the New Testament such as the Acts of St. Peter and St. Paul. These
were commissioned by Pope Leo X. The tapestries designed by Raphael were displayed for the first time in the Sistine Chapel In 1519.

Every part of the Sistine Chapel is decorated and painted with astonishing works of art. are the
south wall, the Last Judgment, the ceiling and north wall. The entrance wall, south, north and
west walls as well as the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel are all adorned with frescoes, artifacts,
figures and images which tell the stories of the bible – old and new testaments. Among
others, you can see the story of , God bestowing life in man, the story of Adam and Eve, the
Drunkenness of Noah the ancestors of Christ and more.

Visiting the Sistine Chapel should be in everyone’s reach – to see some of the finest artwork
humanity has ever produced and to see one of the holiest places in the world for Catholic
Christians and millions of people across the world that look to the pope and the Vatican for
spiritual guidance.

The entire Vatican complex has attracted more visitors from across the world than most tourist
sites due to the riches of art and treasures which can be seen and coupled with the importance
of the Vatican in the Catholic faith and history of the world.

Inside the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City

One of the holiest and most beautiful chapels in the world

Station 1 – the Conclave

Named after Pope Sixtus IV, the Sistine Chapel is perhaps the most famous chapel in the world.
It is renowned both for its function as the Papal Conclave and for its incredible artwork.

The Sistine Chapel serves as the room in which the pope is elected by a College of Cardinals
known as the Papal Conclave. The Cardinals are locked within the chapel until a new Pope is
selected. White smoke rising from the Chapel’s chimney announces the election of a new Pope
by a majority of two-thirds of the conclave, while black smoke indicates that this majority has
yet been reached.

The Sistine Chapel was built according to the measurements of the inner sanctum of Solomon’s
Temple in Jerusalem as written in the Old Testament. The screen, or “transenna”, dividing the
chapel is made of marble and includes a wooden door. It was moved from its original place to
provide the members of the Papal Chapel more space.

Station 2 – Frescoes

Along the northern, eastern and southern walls, astonishing frescoes depicting biblical stories
can be seen.

The northern wall includes the ‘Stories of Christ’: Baptism of Christ, Temptation of Christ,
Vocation of the Apostles, The Sermon on the Mount, The Delivery of the Keys and the Last
Supper.

The southern wall includes the ‘Stories of Moses’: Moses Leaving to Egypt, The Trials of Moses,
The Crossing of the Red Sea, Descent from Mount Sinai, Punishment of the Rebels and the
Testament and Death of Moses.

The eastern wall portrays the Resurrection of Christ and Disputation over Moses' Body.

These beautiful paintings were created by famous artists such as Sandro Botticelli, Cosimo
Rosselli and Pietro Perugino who were commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV to restore the Chapel.
The paintings of the northern and southern wall were completed in 1482 while the paintings on
the eastern wall were added later in 1572 by Hendrik Van den Broeck and Matteo da Lecce.

Station 3 – Michelangelo's Frescoes

The ceiling and western wall of the Sistine Chapel are adorned with some of the most
celebrated paintings in the world created by the famous artist – Michelangelo Buonarroti.

Michelangelo was commissioned to paint the ceiling in 1508 and he completed his work
in 1512. The middle section depicts 9 stories from the Book of Genesis, including the
iconic ‘Creation of Adam’ where the hand of God is seen reaching to Adam to give him life.

In 1535 Michelangelo was commissioned once again to paint the western wall over the altar.
He completed this spectacular painting of the ‘Last Judgment’ in 1541. The painting depicts
the end-of-days and second coming of Christ when according to Christian faith all souls will be
judged by Jesus, the Saints and God and sent to heaven or hell.

Despite being one of the most adored works of art in history, Michelangelo was originally
hesitant to paint the ceiling of the chapel for he saw himself as more of a sculptor than a
painter.

The original ‘Last Judgment’ painting included fully nude human figures, but these were later
covered by another artist due to the demands of some Papal members who claimed that the
nudity was obscene and improper.